Little Pine, Poundmaker First Nations to have own special constables

According to local media and a recent CBC web article, Poundmaker Cree Nation and Little Pine First Nation in northern Saskatchewan will soon have their own community safety officers on patrol.

“With an instructor from North West College, Saskatchewan’s Little Pine First Nation and Poundmaker Cree Nation, northwest of the Battlefords, are training about 20 band members to act as the eyes and ears for their communities,” the CBC reports.

“Over the six-week course, the participants — who all had to undergo criminal record checks and drug screening before they could apply for the course, Little Pine leaders say — will learn how to use pepper spray, batons and handcuffs for defence before they begin patrolling their reserves.”

The CBC says this marks the first time in Saskatchewan's history that two bands are teaming up to train special constables on their own land.